Feed mixer



April 8; 1941. R MARSHALL 2,237,787

. FEED MIXER Filed Feb. 9, 1-940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 2% Z par/er M4/5fid ATTORNEYS P. MARSHALL April 8, 1941.

FEED MIXER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 9, 1940 INVENTOR. par/er Md/1%d// BY 2 g ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FEED MIXER Porter Marshall, Clay Center, Kans.

Aiililication February 9, 1940, Serial No. 318,124

Claims.

This invention relates to mixing machines and the primary object is to provide such equipment with novel and unique apparatus for introducing into a relatively dry material, a quantity of liquid so that the resulting product will be desirable as respects uniformity of mix and the coating of the said relatively dry particles to a predetermined desirable degree.

One of the important aims of the present invention is to provide mixing equipment for feeds or the like, with which it is desired to mingle a certain amount of an ingredient in a liquid or semi-liquid form.

Another object of this invention is to provide a feed mixer of conventional type with unique means for forcibly injecting molasses or the like into a mass of relatively dry feed, through the employment of centrifugal force and through the use of specially formed injecting apparatus that attains the desired end without the employment of a high pressure pump, and through the use of a rotatable bowl, the annular side of which is provided with a plurality of perforations by means of which the liquid is converted into fine streams that are outwardly directed to impinge upon and coat the particles constituting the mass of feed.

Another aim of this invention is the provision of means of the aforementioned character for injecting in a special manner a supply of molasses into a mass of feed, said injecting means being located in a special place within the conventional feed mixer so that as the heaters of the latter lift the feed and convert it into a loose travelling body, the molasses is introduced thereinto.

A yet further object of this invention is the provision in a feed mixer of conventional type, means for periodically advancing the feeding elements within the hopper, said means comprising a combination of parts including specially arranged dogs, ratchet and sprocket wheels and relatively movable cam plates, all of whichcooperate to cause the dogs to remain in engagement with the ratchet wheel for predeterrnined lengths of time during which the feeding elements are operated and betweenwhich times the latter are inactive.

This invention has for another object, the provision of means for periodically actuating certain parts of a feed mixer, which means is rugged, durable, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate, so that the periods of activity may be lengthened or shortened to suit conditions.

The following specification will reveal to one skilled in the art, minor objects of the invention in addition to those set down above. The preferred manner of constructing a feed mixer in accordancewith the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational View of a feed mixer made in accordance with the present invention, parts being broken away for clearness.

Fi 2 is an end view of the feed mixer.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional fragmentary detailed view taken on line IV--IV of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is avertical fragmentary sectional view through the liquid injection means that is disposed within the mixing drum.

While the following specification relates to the illustrated embodiment of the invention as seen in the accompanyingdrawings, it is obvious that advantages may arise if mixing machines for materials other than feed are supplied with the novel parts contemplated by this invention. Describing the feed mixer therefore, is but one manner of disclosing the invention in workable form and reference to the attached drawings reveal a combination of parts which result in the art of mixing materials.

Much of the feed mixer illustrated is of conventional type in that a frame 8 is usually employed to support a mixing drum NJ, having a shaft l2 therein with heaters l4 extending radially therefrom. Also, mixing drum I0 usually supports a hopper 16 connected as at 13 through the medium of aduct so that feed may be deposited in mixing drum .H! as screw 29 is operated by turning shaft 22. The relatively dry feed isfed into hopper I 6 from bin 24 at rates of speed determined by the operator.

In the instance shown, shaft [2 is rotated by motor 26, which is joined to shaft [2 through the medium of pulleys 28 and 30 over which pass a number of belts 32 When the feed is mixed, as will hereinafter be set down, the same is ejected from drum in through a chute 34 having the conventional gate 38 therein. This chute and gate 34 and 36 respectively, is arranged so that sacking may be accomplished with a maximum amount of speed.

When introducing molasses or other liquids to feeds or other relatively dry material passing through mixing drum Ill, it is desirable, if not necessary, to feed the material through duct It at a given rate of speed. The means for periodically moving screw 2!] is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings and comprises a sprocket wheel 38 joined to motor 26 by way of sprocket chain 46, sprocket pinion 42 mounted upon stub shaft 44, pulley 46 likewise mounted upon shaft 44, pulley 48 secured to shaft I2, belt 56 and then members 28, 36 and 32. When the machine is in operation, motor 26 is constantly running and therefore, sprocket wheel 38, which is freely mounted upon shaft 22, continually turns about the axis of this shaft 22.

A ratchet wheel 52 keyed as at 54'to shaft 22 is immediately adjacent one side of sprocket wheel 38. A pair of dogs 56 pivotally mounted upon sprocket Wheel 38 is yieldably urged toward ratchet wheel 52 by springs 58 periodically engaging the wheel when arms 66 are allowed to move to one end of their path of travel as hereinafter described.

Each dog 56 is secured to a stub shaft 62 that passes through sprocket wheel 38. An arm 66' secured to stub shaft 62 has a roller 64 on the free end thereof which engages the cam faces formed on cam plates 66 and 68 respectively.

Cam plate 66 is secured as at I6 directly to the end of hopper I6 and has a relatively high face I2 and a low face I4. The movable cam plate 68 likewise has faces of similar nature and the length of relatively high face I6 of cam plate 68 is the same as the length of cam face 12 on plate 66. The length of relatively low face 18 on cam plate 68 is the same as low face I4 on plate 66. The lengths of the low and the high faces of these two plates 66 and 68 respectively, are such as to cause movement of arm 66 and therefore, dogs 56 toward and from ratchet 52 at any desired rate of speed commensurate, of course, with the rate of speed of motor 26.

Cam plate 66 is loosely mounted on shaft 22 in juxtaposition with cam plate 66 and adjacent to the other side of sprocket wheel 38; Movement of plate 66 is accomplished through the medium of a chain, cable or other element 86 that extends to within easy reach of the operator.

A spring 82 yieldably maintains plate 66 at one end of a path of travel that may be determined, and which permits the dogs to operate normally when feeds of given characteristics are being treated. The movement of plate 68 about the axis of shaft 22 will lengthen the relatively high face I2 of plate 66 and therefore, cause arm 66 to be held out a greater period of time. When the arms are thus held at the outer end of theirpath of travel, dogs 56 will not be in engagement with ratchet 52.

' The means for introducing liquid into the relatively dry feed which enters drum I6 through duct I8 is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5. This means comprises a rotatably mounted bowl. generally indicated by the numeral 84, but which comprises a perforated cylindrical side wall 86 disposed with its axis in a vertical position and closed at the upper and lower ends by heads 86 and 96 respectively. The lower head is fastened quantity of liquid that has passed through pipe I62.

Drive shaft 92 is connected to motor I66 through the medium of pulley I68, belt H6 and pulley I I2. Motor I66 is mounted upon slotted plate II4 so that adjustment may take place and a separate switch to control the circuit for this motor should be provided. In practice, it has been found that the speed of rotation of bowl 84 should be about 3,060 R. P. M.

The size of perforations H6 in wall 86 may be altered and because of the high speed developed, means such as the slot and pin arrangement II8, should be established to insure a unitary bowl structure as regards wall 66 and heads 88 and 66.

If it is necessary or desirable to replace or service perforated cylinder 86, head 66 may be slipped along shaft 92 and cylinder 66 removed.

The liquid which passes into bowl 84 through pipe I 62 is not under pump pressure, and in fact, may enter bowl 64 through the action of gravity. The centrifugal force exerted will throw the attenuated streams of liquid outwardly from cylinder 66 and against the relatively dry and fluffy mass of feed, after the latter has been lifted by heaters I4.

The position of bowl 84 should be above the center of drum I6 so that the result just set down may be attained. The closed nature of bowl 64 is such as to establish a force at the same time the liquid is directed toward the materials being coated, and therefore, a pump is not necessary to generate pressure prior to the time the liquid is broken into relatively fine streams or globules. The elimination of a pump may therefore occur and the molasses fed directly into bowl 84 through the action of gravity.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the principles involved and described in the foregoing specification may be incorporated in mixing machines having physical characteristics other than that illustrated and likewise the concepts may be introduced into structure forming a part of machines designed to mix materials other than those specified. It is desired, therefore, to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A feed mixer of the character described comprising a horizontally disposed drum having a plurality of rotary heaters therein movable about a horizontal axis; a hopper in communication with the drum; means having parts in the hopper for feeding material therefrom into the drum at selected rates of speed; a hollow, rotatable bowl in the drum provided with perforations in the side wall thereof; means for spinning the bowl about a vertical axis for directing material therefrom in horizontal paths above the bottom of the drum; and a pipe for supplying liquids to the bowl as the same is spinning, said heaters serving to mix with feed such material as falls by gravity to the bottom of the drum.

2. A feed mixer of the character described comprising a horizontally disposed drum having a plurality of rotary beaters therein movable about a horizontal axis; a hopper in communication with the drum; means having parts in the hopper for feeding material therefrom into the drum at selected rates of speed; a hollow, rotatable bowl in the drum provided with perforations in the side wall thereof; means for spinning the bowl about a vertical axis for directing material therefrom in horizontal paths above the bottom of the drum; and a pipe for supplying liquids to the bowl as the same is spinning, said beaters serving to mix with feed such material as falls by gravity to the bottom of the drum, said bowl being disposed in the upper portion of said drum for movement about a vertical axis whereby to force liquid into the material after the same has been thrown upwardly by the heaters.

3. A feed mixer of the character described comprising a drum having a plurality of rotary heaters therein; a hopper in communication with the drum; means having parts in the hopper for feeding material therefrom into the drum at selected rates of speed; said feeding means comprising a shaft, a feed screw on the shaft, a ratchet keyed to the shaft, a sprocket wheel having connection with a motor freely mounted on the shaft, a dog on the sprocket wheel movable to and from engagement with the ratchet, an arm having a roller thereon operably joined to the dog, and a pair of cam plates in engagement with the roller for periodically moving the dog toward and from the ratchet.

4. In a feed mixer of the kind described having a hopper and a screw therein for moving material therefrom, means for periodically actuating said screw comprising a shaft rigid with the V screw; a ratchet rigid with the shaft; a sprocket wheel having connection with a motor freely mounted on the shaft adjacent to the ratchet; a dog on the sprocket wheel movable to and from engagement with the ratchet; an arm having a roller thereon operably joined to the dog; a cam plate secured to the hopper having a face over which the roller rides as the sprocket wheel is rotated; another cam plate in juxtaposition to the first mentioned cam plate and freely mounted on the shaft; and manually operable means for changing the relative Positions of said cam plates connected to the said freely mounted cam plate whereby to periodically move the dog toward and from the ratchet at predetermined rates of speed.

5. In a feed mixer of the kind described having a hopper and a screw therein for moving material therefrom, means for periodically actuating said screw comprising a shaft rigid with the screw; a ratchet rigid with the shaft; a sprocket Wheel having connection with a motor freely mounted on the shaft adjacent to the ratchet; a dog on the sprocket wheel movable to and from engagement with the ratchet; an arm having a roller thereon operably joined to the dog; a cam plate secured to the hopper having a face over which the roller rides as the sprocket wheel is rotated; another cam plate in juxtaposition to the first mentioned cam plate and freely mounted on the shaft; and manually operable means for changing the relative position of said cam plates connected to the said freely mounted cam plate whereby to periodically move the dog toward and from the ratchet at predetermined rates of speed, said cam plates each having a high face and a low face on the edge thereof, the movement of said free cam face serving to lengthen or shorten the combined length of the high faces whereby to lengthen or shorten respectively the interval in which the dog is in engagement with the ratchet.

PORTER MARSHALL. 

